Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Salem, MA and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Chicago, IL: $3,037 a month against $3,554 in Salem, MA, rent and utilities included – about $6,200 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Salem, MA outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

171

Cost of Living Index in Salem, MA
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Salem, MA Living Index
147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index

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Salem, MA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,554

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Salem, MA and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Salem, MA and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,554 per month in Salem, MA vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Salem, MA $3,554
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $4,918 per month in Salem, MA vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Salem, MA $4,918
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $6,282 per month in Salem, MA vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Salem, MA $6,282
Chicago, IL $5,999

Salem, MA costs about 17% more than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Salem, MA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Salem, MA by 161%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.21 $25.21

$20.71 $20.71

21.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$89.2 $89.2

12.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.89 $10.89

$13.19 $13.19

-17.44%

Cappuccino

$4.95 $4.95

$5.66 $5.66

-12.54%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.64 $2.64

-6.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.28 $2.28

-6.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.90 $7.90

$6.87 $6.87

14.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.01 $7.01

$8.84 $8.84

-20.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.25 $1.25

0.80%

White Bread (500g)

$3.61 $3.61

$3.72 $3.72

-2.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$5.39 $5.39

-17.81%

Eggs

$4.43 $4.43

$4.74 $4.74

-6.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.51 $12.51

$13.84 $13.84

-9.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.34 $11.34

$14.40 $14.40

-21.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.95 $16.95

$18.38 $18.38

-7.78%

Apples (1kg)

$4.71 $4.71

$5.22 $5.22

-9.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.98 $1.98

-20.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$4.06 $4.06

8.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.68 $4.68

$4.97 $4.97

-5.84%

Potato (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.67 $2.67

4.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.66 $2.66

10.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.24 $2.24

12.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$3.13 $3.13

-29.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.56 $9.56

$13.82 $13.82

-30.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.25 $15.25

$14.88 $14.88

2.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.54 $2.54

-12.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.51 $3.51

-4.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.43 $2.43

-7.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.6 $59.6

$73.5 $73.5

-18.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.47 $3.47

$3.18 $3.18

9.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.39 $1.39

28.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.75 $26.75

$25.03 $25.03

6.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.20 $1.20

-26.67%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.5K $24.5K

$35.0K $35.0K

-30.09%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.9K $22.9K

$26.7K $26.7K

-14.22%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$193 $193

$194 $194

-0.78%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$58.4 $58.4

$69.5 $69.5

-15.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.7 $65.7

$61.6 $61.6

6.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.42 $42.42

$47.90 $47.90

-11.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$14.78 $14.78

$17.81 $17.81

-17.01%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,423 $1,423

$1,794 $1,794

-20.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.9K $21.9K

$31.9K $31.9K

-31.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.3 $85.3

$67.0 $67.0

27.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.1 $57.1

$52.1 $52.1

9.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.7 $97.7

$102 $102

-3.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.3 $98.3

$144 $144

-31.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,353 $2,353

$2,526 $2,526

-6.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,164 $2,164

$1,578 $1,578

37.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,963 $3,963

$4,738 $4,738

-16.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,088 $3,088

$2,693 $2,693

14.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,802 $2,802

$4,190 $4,190

-33.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,303 $2,303

$2,768 $2,768

-16.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$9,667 $9,667

$4,931 $4,931

96.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.57

6.81

-3.52%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Salem, MA: October 26, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Salem, MA

$2.2K 60.9%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 27.1% $586

Groceries & Markets

Salem, MA

$402 11.3%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 11.2% $45

Eating Out

Salem, MA

$366 10.3%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 5.7% $21

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Salem, MA

$317 8.9%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 2.7% $8.6

Clothing & Footwear

Salem, MA

$152 4.3%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 7.7% $12

Getting Around

Salem, MA

$81 2.3%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 15.4% $12

Sport & Entertainment

Salem, MA

$72 2%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 16% $12

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,353 in Salem, MA versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 96% higher in Salem, MA. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Salem, MA versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $402 in Salem, MA vs $447 in Chicago, IL – so Salem, MA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Salem, MA

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

02:38 2:38 AM

01:38 1:38 AM

1 h behind Salem, MA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

155,469

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.893 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Salem, MA Chicago, IL 1,380 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Salem, MA
Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Salem, MA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,554 in Salem, MA, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – Chicago, IL comes out roughly 15% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,332 per month in Salem, MA and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A central 1-bedroom goes for about $2,353 in Salem, MA and $2,526 in Chicago, IL. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.

Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Salem, MA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Salem, MA and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,554 in Salem, MA and $3,037 in Chicago, IL. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,037 in Chicago, IL to $3,554 in Salem, MA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Chicago, IL. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Salem, MA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.